As many as six million women are victims of domestic violence every year, and the cost for physical and mental health treatments for partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, according to the Domestic Violence Resource Center. One organization is hoping to help some women and children with some of these expenses, reports People Magazine.
Face Forward was founded by Deborah Alessi and her husband, a plastic surgeon. Alessi herself was a victim of domestic violence with a previous boyfriend. Her organization offers free facial plastic surgery to women and children who have been affected by spousal abuse or gang violence, the news source reports.
The L.A.-based organization helps cover extensive plastic surgery procedures that can be quite costly - as much as $200,000. Many of their clients undergo several different procedures.
Additionally, Alessi makes sure that her clients are getting help with their situation beyond plastic surgery. She requires documentation of the abuse to weed out disingenuous people looking for free plastic surgery, and requires patients to leave their abusive relationships and commit to therapy.
"I want to help them, and I want them to go forward," Alessi told the news source. "But I have rules for them."
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